Ring



M. MOSS Aug. 8, 1939.

RING

Filed May 17, 1939 (ZJa urv'ce (Mass,

Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 17 Claims.

The invention relates in general to a device in which removable letters, numerals, insignia, designs, etc., may be installed. It is especially adapted to rings such as finger rings and may be described in that connection.

The custom of using rings for gifts at various times with inscriptions therein has been established. Wedding rings, engagement rings, rings for anniversaries, souvenirs, or gifts at holdays and the like frequently have inscribed on them insignia, messages, dates and the like. Ordinarily the ring itself may be provided with any desirable or suitable surface ornamentation and the special engraving be placed on the interior of the ring where it is against the finger of the wearer and not ordinarily visible. The present invention is especially adapted to use where it is desired that the special insignia, ornamentation, etc., may be visible when the ring is worn. It is desirable that it be possible for the jeweller or dealer to promptly and readily provide in the ring the desired or selected insignia, inscription and the like. It is a purpose of the present invention to provide such means in a satisfactory manner.

In one specific form the invention may consist of a ring made up of two bands joined together and so forming a trough, channel or aperture into which may be placed desired letters, initials, numerals, insignia, etc. The means for holding the bands together may be resilient or expansible or stretchable so that the bands may be forced somewhat apart for the insertion of the insignia, etc., and then may hold them in place in the rmg.

The invention may be embodied in various forms but one specific form embodied in a ring will be illustrated and described to indicate clearly the character of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of a ring ready to receive the insignia, etc.; Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectionalview on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a ring in which insignia and the like have been installed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of insignia or letters adapted to be installed in the ring. Fig. 5 is a vertical side elevation of the letters shown in Fig. 4; Fig; 6 is an end elevation of the same; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary internal view of a ring such as illustrated in Fig. 3 in which the insignia or the like have been inserted; Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are on an enlarged scale, Fig. 8 being a vertical section on the line 8--8 of Fig. 1, Fig. 9 is a similar section to Fig. 8 showing the insignia and the like partially installedand Fig. 10 is a sectional View similar to Figs. 8 and 9 showing the insignia and the like fully installed as indicated in Fig. 3.

The ring may consist of two circular bands 20 and 2| held together, preferably on their inner sides, by cross members 22. The cross members 22 are preferably elastic, stretchable or expanding. In Fig. 1 the cross members 22 are illustrated as made up of two resilient metal bands bowed slightlyoutward. This makes it possible for the two bands 20 and 2| to be slightly sep- 10 arated by placing tension on the connecting members 22. This tension will tend to straighten out the bows in the members 22 and they may take the final position "somewhat as indicated in Fig. '7.

It is obvious that in the condition indicated in 15 Fig. '7 the elastic members 22 tend to draw together the members 20 and 2| and consequently grasp and place pressure upon any-thing inserted between the members 20 and 2|. The members 22 may be continuous throughout the circumfer- =2 ence of the ring or may be spaced apart at suitable intervals as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, their number being immaterial to the present invention.

. In order to cooperate with the ring proper there may be provided letters, numerals or insigg5 nia of various kinds such as indicated for example at 23 in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Each of the members 23 may preferably be slightly curved in one or both directions asindicated in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. As indicated in Fig. 6 the curvature may '30 preferably be substantially the same as the curvature of the circle formed by the bands 20 and 2| so that when placed in the bands they may fit in neatly. Specific curvature is not essential. The curvature from end to end as indicated in Fig. 5 35 may be desirable to give a pleasing, satisfactory appearance andfinish to the completed article but may not be essential in specific forms of the invention. The members 23 may be somewhat resilient but will preferably be of more or less 40 rigid character. As indicated the resilient connecting members 22 may preferably be on the inner sides of the circular bands 20 and 2! so as to lie in use in contact with the finger on which the ring is worn.

It will be understood that a suitable number and variety of letters, numerals, insignia or the like maybe supplied and carried in stock by the dealer or jeweller who is assembling and distributing or selling the completed ring.

The parts of the ring and the insignia and the like may be made of suitable base metal or material such as silver, gold, platinum or other materials. V

The desired ring of the proper size having been selected and it having been determined what legend or material is to be placed in the ring the dealer may select the appropriate letters, insignia, etc., 23. One end of the insignia 23 may be placed against a ring band or in a suitable groove 24 in one of the ring bands, 20 for instance. In this position the other end of the insignia 23 may rest against the other ring band upon the edge of the lip 25 of a channel 26 provided in the other ring member 2 I. Pressure slightly inward and to the right as indicated in Fig. 9 may be applied to the free end of the insignia 23, preferably by means of a flat tool or the like 21..

This pressure will cause the connecting member 22 to expand allowing the ring members 20 and 2| to separate sufiiciently to allow the, insignia 23 to pass over the catch member 25 and enter into close contact with the member 2| or into the slot 26 therein. The connecting members 22 will then tend to contract and pull together the ring mem-' bers 20 and 2| so as to put longitudinal pressure upon the member 23 and hold it securely between the rings 20 and 2| as indicated in Fig. 10. It will be noted that the overhanging lip 25 in the ring 21 is associated with a corresponding overhanging lip 28 in the ring member 20. In Figs. 8, 9 and 10 these overhanging lips have been somewhat exaggerated to show their arrangement. The overhang may be omitted or may be slight since the pressure exerted by the contraction of the member 22 on the ends of the members 23 may be substantially sufficient to hold the members 23 in place.

As indicated in Fig. 4 it may be desirable to place at the top and bottom of the members 23 slight sideways extensions 29. These may be hidden in the slots 24 and 26 but may serve to properly space apart the letters, numerals, insignia, etc., which may be assembled in the ring. It will be understood of course that preferably a sufficient number of letters, numerals, insignia, etc, will be assembled in the ring to complete the entire circumference. When the initials, dates or legend to be inserted do not contain sufficient letters to complete the circumference ordinarily members of various sorts may be inserted to complete it. The insignia '23 may be placed over the connecting members 22 so the connecting members 22 show through the insignia. This showing, however, is relatively inconspicuous and may not be undesirable.- It may be desirable, however, sofar as possible, to so arrange the insignia that solid uprights of the insignia such as indicated for instanceat the right hand of Fig. 4 overlie and substantially conceal the connecting members 22. To overcome any showing of member 22 from being conspicuous through members 23 if desired various colors of tin foil, base metal or other materials, as indicated at 30 in Fig. 10, may be placed between members 22 and 23.

After use of a ring assembly with members or for changing its appearance or significance, it may be desired-to remove the members 23 and replace them by other members having different or other or additional significance. This may be done by placing pressure on the inner side of the member 23 'as exposed in Fig. '7. Such pressure may cause one or-both ends of the member 23 to rise from the channels 24 or 26 and release itself from the ring One or more or all-of the members so installed may thus be removed and replaced by new membersas indicated above.

While the invention is especially adapted to rings and has been particularly described in connection therewith it will be understood that it may be embodied in other forms when desired.

It will be understood that the members 23 may be numerals, letters or insignia of various sorts or may be merely ornamental members having no specific significance. When assembled in a ring the numerals, letters and insignia themselves may in general form an ornamentation for the ring. In the accompanying claims the term ornamental members has been employed in the generic sense to include all such devices.

I claim as my invention:

apart throughout their entire circumference, re-

silient members holding the frame members together, and removable ornamental members held in the frame.

2. A ring comprising frame members of channel shape, resilient members holding the frame members together, and removable ornamental members held in the frame.

3. A ring comprising frame members, resilient members holding the frame members together, and ornamental members adapted to be forced between the frame members against the resistance of the resilient members and held between the frame members by the resistance of the resilient members.

4. A ring comprising frame members, resilient members holding the frame members together, and curved members slightly arched and held in the frame.

5. A ring comprising frame members, seats in the facing edges of the frame members, stretchable members holding the frame members together, and members held between the seats of the frame members.

6. A ring comprising frame members of channel form, resilient members holding the frame members together, relatively rigid but somewhat resilient ornamental members adapted to be forced between the frame members and held between the frame members by the resistance of the resilient members.

7. A ring comprising frame members, resilient members holding the frame members together, relatively rigid but somewhat resilient ornamental members adapted to be forced between the frame members against the resistance of the resilient members and held between the channel members by the resistance of the resilient members.

8. A ring comprising frame members spaced apart throughout their entire circumference, spaced members holding the frame members together, and members between the frame members.

9. A ring comprising frame members spaced apart throughout their entire circumference, spaced members holding the frame members together, and removable members between the frame members.

10. A ring comprising curvilinear frame members, resilient members holding the frame members together, relatively rigid but somewhat resilient ornamental members adapted to be forced between the frame members against the resistance of the resilient members.

.11. A ring comprising frame members spaced apart throughout their entire circumference, resilient members holding the frame members together, and ornamental members held between the frame members by the resistance of the resilient members.

12, A ring comprising curvilinear frame members spaced apart throughout their entire circumference, spaced members holding the frame members together, and members between the frame members.

13. A ring comprising frame members spaced apart throughout their entire circumference, resilient means holding the frame members together, and members held in the frame.

14. Relatively rigid frame members for receiving ornamental members, resilient members holding the frame members together, and relatively rigid but somewhat resilient ornamental members adapted to be forced between the frame members against the resistance of the resilient members.

15. Relatively rigid frame members for receiving ornamental members, resilient members holding the frame members together but separated from each other, and removable members held in the frame.

16. Relatively rigid frame members for receiving ornamental members, resilient members holding the frame members together, and ornamental members adapted to be forced between the frame members against the resistance of the resilient members and held between the frame members by the resistance of the resilient members.

17. Relatively rigid frame members for receiving ornamental members, resilient members holding the frame members together but separated from each other, and ornamental members held between the frame members by the resistance of the resilient members.

MAURICE MOSS. 

